Kumba Iron Ore, part of the Anglo American group, mines iron ore in the Northern Cape. Kumba uses bursaries to build its future pipeline of engineers, geoscientists, mining and processing specialists, and finance staff, and its bursars do their vacation work in the Northern Cape.
No Kumba advert for 2027 so far
As of 1 October 2026, Kumba had not advertised any bursaries for 2027 study. The graduates and bursaries section of Kumba’s website gives no dates and tells applicants to check each Anglo American business unit’s application dates before applying. The CareerWise bursary adverts page, which Kumba has used for its recent calls, listed 2027 adverts from other mining companies but none from Kumba.
Careers Kumba trains bursars for
Kumba’s careers site says the company supports high-performing learners in mining-related studies. Applicants can be in Grade 12 or already studying towards a South African degree or a Bachelor of Engineering Technology. Kumba describes four career paths:
- Engineering: electrical, mechanical, civil, asset management and projects
- Geosciences: exploration, resource evaluation and mining geology
- Mining: operations, planning, surveying and geotechnical work
- Processing: metallurgy, chemistry and mineralogy
Kumba also lists finance among its bursary fields. The company says it favours applicants who have a passion for their field and a clear view of their future career, and that it funds both students who need financial help and students who want practical experience.
What Kumba’s most recent call asked for
Kumba’s latest advert, circulated through the University of the Western Cape in May 2026 with a closing date of 19 May 2026, offered bursaries to 1st, 2nd and 3rd-year students in a narrower list of fields:
- Industrial engineering
- Mining engineering
- Occupational hygiene
- Environmental sciences
- Finance (not the CA route)
- Human resources or industrial psychology
That call accepted only students who live in or come from the Northern Cape. Applicants had to upload proof of registration or provisional university acceptance, plus their academic results. Kumba described the award as comprehensive: tuition, books, accommodation and paid vacation work, all of it at Northern Cape sites. Kumba’s fields change between calls, so read the next advert’s list before you apply.
Getting ready for Kumba’s next call
Kumba’s recent adverts sent applicants to the CareerWise online bursary application, where you register a profile using the promotional code printed on that year’s Kumba advert. The May 2026 code was tied to that call, so wait for the code in the new advert. Keep certified copies of your ID, your latest results and your acceptance letter ready, and check the CareerWise bursary adverts page and Kumba’s graduates and bursaries page for the next call.
Other Northern Cape mining bursaries
Students from the Northern Cape’s mining towns can also look at the Assmang Manganese bursary and the Joe Morolong Assmang bursary. The engineering bursaries hub lists more mining funders.